Sasaki Matthew, Isanta-Navarro Jana, Govaert Lynn
University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Biological Sciences, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA.
University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology, Universitetsparken 4, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jun 3;16(1):5142. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60470-5.
Experimental research, ranging from fully-controlled laboratory experiments to semi-controlled field manipulations, enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying natural dynamics and species responses to global change. These approaches, many of which were first developed in aquatic systems, have laid the foundations for modern ecological work. In this Perspective, we discuss how aquatic experimental ecology has shaped the field of ecology and how modern experimental ecology has contributed to our understanding of ecological dynamics under changing conditions in aquatic systems. We also highlight the challenges experimental ecologists must overcome in the near future as we seek to predict and mitigate the effects of global change. We argue that many of the challenges we currently face can be overcome by embracing multidimensional ecological experiments, moving beyond classical model organisms, including environmental variability, integrating across disciplinary boundaries and using novel technologies.
从完全控制的实验室实验到半控制的野外操纵的实验研究，增进了我们对自然动态背后机制以及物种对全球变化反应的理解。这些方法，其中许多最初是在水生系统中开发的，为现代生态学研究奠定了基础。在这篇观点文章中，我们讨论了水生实验生态学如何塑造了生态学领域，以及现代实验生态学如何有助于我们理解水生系统变化条件下的生态动态。我们还强调了实验生态学家在不久的将来寻求预测和减轻全球变化影响时必须克服的挑战。我们认为，通过采用多维生态实验、超越经典模式生物、纳入环境变异性、跨学科整合以及使用新技术，可以克服我们目前面临的许多挑战。
